Comets' Tina Thompson and Monarchs' Rebekkah Brunson reach for a rebound during the first half.

Comets' Tina Thompson and Monarchs' Rebekkah Brunson reach for a rebound during the first half.

Photo: JESSICA KOURKOUNIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Image 3 of 3

Ernest Evans, better known as Chubby Checker, waves to his daughter, Comets' Mistie Williams, from the stands during the first half.

Ernest Evans, better known as Chubby Checker, waves to his daughter, Comets' Mistie Williams, from the stands during the first half.

Photo: JESSICA KOURKOUNIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Comets hang on to beat Monarchs

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

Delivering the 200th WNBA victory for coach Van Chancellor became an ordeal that required a little extra work from the Comets on Wednesday night.

But with Tamecka Dixon scoring her first points of the night in overtime and Tina Thompson erupting for eight of her season-high 26 points, the Comets quelled the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs 73-66 in front of a crowd of 5,627 at Toyota Center.

"You know, I don't mean this to be (negative)," said Chancellor, the winningest coach in the WNBA's 10-year history. "That (200 wins) means very little to me. I'm more interested in trying to win a fifth ring. I'm glad to win the game."

Before the start of the Comets' fifth consecutive win at home, WNBA president Donna Orender was on hand to introduce the Comets, who one day earlier had been voted to the league's All-Decade team.

Sheryl Swoopes gritted out her first start since June 4 and scored 11 points but was sent to the sideline again with a sprained ankle after playing only 26 minutes.

Snow on a roll

By the time Swoopes left with 51 seconds to go in the third quarter, Michelle Snow had put on a show with 16 of her 18 points and five rebounds.

The Comets led 49-47 at the end of the third period, but when Thompson fired in five consecutive points, including a 3-pointer from NBA range, the Comets gained momentum and grabbed a 57-49 advantage.

The Monarchs then went on 13-4 run to close out the period. Nicole Powell gave the Monarchs a 61-59 lead on a jumper from the lane with 69 seconds left in regulation.

But Snow forced overtime with a layup. She was fouled on the play by Yolanda Griffith but couldn't make the free throw.

Dixon, who shot 0-for-6 from the floor during regulation, dumped in a pair of buckets within the first 1:50 of overtime, and Thompson dropped in a pair of deep treys as the Comets went on a 12-1 tear to gain control.

"Sacramento did a great job in the fourth quarter getting back into the game," Chancellor said. "And we went into overtime. I thought our energy level was really good. I thought we played some great basketball at that time. We really picked it up in overtime."

Dixon is still trying to bounce back from a strained left hamstring injury.

"I'm actually still trying to get into a rhythm," Dixon said. "I missed the first month of games for us. So for me, it's just trying to get comfortable and get into a rhythm.

"I tried to take what the defense gave me and not think about what happened the first four quarters. I know that overtime is another game, it's another chance to redeem myself. So I came in and tried to do what I could to help the team."

Good defense

The Comets turned in another sound defensive effort for most of the 45 minutes, holding the Monarchs, who average nearly 50 percent from the field on the year, to 35-percent shooting.

Powell was 5-for-13 from the field for 11 points. Lawson made just one of her seven field-goal attempts for five points.

Yolanda Griffith and Hamchetou Maiga-Ba led the Monarchs with 14 points.

william.stickney@chron.com

COMETS SUMMARY

WNBA eyes expansion

WNBA president
Donna Orender
visited Toyota Center on Wednesday night as part of a frenetic week she has spent traveling around the league watching five games in seven days.

While here, she talked about increased fan interest over the first three weeks of the 2006 season that has league officials pointing toward an accelerated plan for expansion.

When it begins and how many new franchises will be brought in is uncertain at present, she said.

"I don't know that it'll be 10 teams in 10 years. I think that would be ambitious," Orender said. "I don't know. It's hard to say right now, but there's certainly a lot of interest in many markets right now."

A rich and deep talent pool throughout the league, Orender said, has resulted in a level of competition that has fans showing increased interest in the WNBA.